Ilham Vuilloud

Who Is Ilham Vuilloud?

Ilham Vuilloud is a Swiss television presenter, reporter, and former fashion model. She was born on November 30, 1975, in Lausanne, Switzerland. She holds Swiss nationality and belongs to the White Caucasian ethnic background.

However, her public profile grew significantly when she married professional tennis player Stan Wawrinka in 2009. After dating for four years, they tied the knot in December 2009 at the Lausanne Palace Hotel in Switzerland. The marriage placed her under the global spotlight of professional sport. But Ilham Vuilloud is far more than a footnote in a tennis career. She is a professional in her own right — and her story deserves to be told on its own terms.

Early Life: Lausanne and the Making of a Media Personality

Growing Up in Lausanne

Ilham was born on November 30, 1975, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Lausanne is one of Switzerland’s most vibrant French-speaking cities. It sits on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is a city known for culture, sport, and the arts — a fitting birthplace for someone who would go on to thrive in both media and fashion.

Not much is publicly known about her childhood and educational background. Ilham is a private person. She has chosen to keep the details of her early family life away from public view. However, she was an endorser of some Swiss brands before she tied the knot with Stan Wawrinka. This shows that her professional life was already well underway before her marriage brought international attention.

A Passion for Media and Communication

The television presenter grew up in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she became interested in communication and media. This interest would eventually shape her entire professional identity.

Her Sagittarius personality — known for ambition, warmth, and directness — seems to fit her career path perfectly. She moved from fashion into journalism and broadcasting with confidence.

Career: From the Runway to the Screen

Modelling Career

Before she became known as a television presenter, Ilham Vuilloud built a name for herself in the Swiss fashion world. In the past, she was a model and appeared in different fashion shows. Vuilloud also worked with brands and magazines, sharing her fashion expertise as an influencer and advisor.

Her work as a model gave her poise, confidence on camera, and a deep familiarity with the world of visual presentation. These qualities would later serve her well in front of television cameras.

Television Career

Vuilloud worked as a television presenter for the Swiss television channel RTS. She presented a variety of shows, including sports programs and news programs. RTS — Radio Télévision Suisse — is Switzerland’s leading French-language public broadcaster. Presenting for RTS placed Ilham among the most respected faces in Swiss media.

Furthermore, she has been hosting several shows in places like Europe, New York, Paris, and more. This international reach shows that her influence extended well beyond Switzerland’s borders.

Over the years, she has hosted a variety of television shows, making her a prominent figure in the Swiss television landscape. She combined her fashion background with journalism to become a versatile and respected on-screen personality.

Personal Life: Love, Marriage, and Moving Forward

Meeting Stan Wawrinka

According to online sources, Wawrinka and Vuilloud first met in 2005 and, after dating for four years, they tied the knot in December 2009. The wedding took place at the Lausanne Palace Hotel — one of Switzerland’s most iconic venues.

It was a love story rooted in their shared city. Both were born in Lausanne. Both built successful careers there. When they met, Stan was a rising professional tennis player. Ilham was already an established media personality.

There was also a notable age gap between them. She was 10 years older than Stan when they got married. Ilham was 34. Stan was 24. The age difference never stopped them from building a life together.

A Daughter Named Alexia

Ilham was seven months pregnant at the time of the wedding. Just weeks later, on February 12, 2010, their daughter Alexia was born.

Alexia became the centre of both of their worlds. Stan loved Alexia deeply. Ilham claims that Stan loves her daughter equally, and all she wants is for him to be there for her always. His love for Alexia is even reflected in one of his tattoos, as he has her name inked on his right arm.

The Marriage Years: Joy and Challenges

The early years of marriage were full of joy. However, the demands of professional tennis soon created strain. Wawrinka and Vuilloud briefly separated in 2010 before reconciling. They chose to give their marriage another chance. They pushed forward together.

But the challenges did not go away. Stan’s career intensified. He was away from home for extended periods. Wawrinka and Vuilloud eventually announced their permanent separation in April 2015, with Wawrinka pointing to the demands of his professional tennis career.

Stan’s public statement at the time was gracious. He said: “Ilham and I were both blessed to create a family when our wonderful daughter Alexia was born in 2010. We have always tried to live our lives as a team and as a family, despite the challenges we have faced due to the demands of my career. To my great regret, this isn’t possible anymore.”

He added: “Ilham will always be the mother of my daughter and a person that I have a lot of love and respect for. We will always remain as a family.”

Divorce and Life After

By April 2015, the pair announced their divorce after nearly six years of marriage and a decade together.

After the divorce, Ilham faced scrutiny she did not deserve. Some fans blamed her for Stan’s tennis performances after their split. However, Ilham finally broke her silence and claimed that her ex-husband was not losing games due to their divorce.

Despite everything, the two maintained maturity and mutual respect. Despite their separation, both Stan and Ilham have demonstrated maturity by prioritising their daughter Alexia and actively engaging in co-parenting efforts.

Stan and Ilham continue to co-parent Alexia. Stan has spoken in the past about the importance of remaining a united family despite the divorce.

Ilham has not remarried since. She has kept her personal life private. Ilham Vuilloud has not entered into matrimony again following her divorce from Wawrinka. She continues to focus on her career, her daughter, and her life in Switzerland.

About Stan Wawrinka: The Man She Married

Stan Wawrinka is one of the most celebrated tennis players Switzerland has ever produced. Known for the style and power of his one-handed backhand — considered by some to be the greatest backhand in the game — Stan Wawrinka has won three Grand Slam titles.

After claiming his first major at the 2014 Australian Open, he went on to triumph at Roland Garros in 2015 and the US Open in 2016.

Across his career, he claimed 16 ATP singles titles and earned more than 38 million dollars in career prize money, placing him among the top ten earners in tennis history.

Wawrinka was also part of the Swiss team that won the Davis Cup in 2014. Furthermore, he won the doubles gold medal with Roger Federer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Wawrinka announced that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season, bringing to a close one of the most remarkable careers in modern tennis.